to college—at sixteen. The only reason he let me go without a bodyguard is because Beacon was going to be there too. Back then, Beac and the guys weren’t famous at all, and they had trained with Dad for a few years.
“It’s going to be okay, Dad,” I assure him.
I should remind him that I live on my own. I have traveled around the world without the need of anyone watching over me. Most importantly, I can fend for myself. He’s been teaching me martial arts since I was four.
“What I don’t understand is why you are doing this.” He looks at the pet carrier Mom’s carrying. “Mozart is not going to like it.”
Is he for real? He’s using my cat as an excuse. Dad wouldn’t like my answer to his questions. He won’t love it if I say, “Beacon is teaching me to date, and I might even get a few pointers on my sex life.”
To avoid giving him a stroke, I say, “Mozart travels with me, always. If he had a passport, it’d be filled with stamps from all over the world. Since I don’t have anything to do at least until August, I will help the Aldridges. The stipulations in the will prevent them from hiring a nanny. As a family friend, I can help them with Arden and Carter.”
“You know, I never liked William Aldridge, but now…” Dad pauses. “So, it’s the kids, and it has nothing to do with Beacon taking a sabbatical effective last week.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Beac requested a sabbatical?”
He gives me a sharp nod. “You didn’t know about it?”
“No. He mentioned taking a break,” I mumble, trying to recall exactly what he said he planned on doing this year. He definitely said he would do whatever he wanted. What he said included a lot of cussing and nonsense that I ignored. “A sabbatical is—he doesn’t plan on doing anything for The Organization?”
“Exactly, which is why I think it’d be best if you stay with us.”
“If he wasn’t taking a sabbatical, you’d be okay with this?”
His lips press together in a slight grimace as he stares at me for several seconds before exhaling harshly and saying, “You need medical attention.”
My mouth opens, agape. Is he freaking kidding me? I don’t have an argument because he’s absurd. I glance at Mom, who shrugs. Clearly, she’s having too much fun watching her husband be ridiculous. She doesn’t plan to intervene because that will cut the entertainment too soon.
“Seriously, Dad?”
“I don’t like this.”
“It’s just until I find something to do.”
“I have plenty of stuff in the office,” he offers.
“If it’s not in the field, I don’t want anything, thank you,” I retort. “You don’t let me work without my team.” I toss my hands up in the air, exasperated. “You are impossible, Father.”
“Where are you staying?”
I pull out my phone and show him the house I leased a couple of weeks ago. “It’s close to Tucker’s home and the Aldridge place,” I explain.
“What happens if you need to go to the hospital.”
“Just a reminder that Beacon’s brother and sister-in-law are doctors,” I continue and touch my pump. “This gadget is working perfectly fine. If not, you’d receive a message.”
“Ainse, reason with your daughter,” he says, exasperated.
I look at Mom and say, “Control your husband, please.”
“We support you, but why do you have to do this?” Mom’s question is somehow more reasonable than the third degree I’ve been enduring for the past couple of hours.
I sigh and look over my shoulder because a truck just parked in the driveway. Beacon steps out of it and smiles at me. “Mr. and Mrs. Bradley.”
Why is he here?
Well, it doesn’t matter. Since he’s here and he doesn’t care about taking heat from Dad, I throw him under the bus. “I’m also going to live there because Beac is teaching me how to date.”
My parents look at each other, and their eyes open wide. I’m not sure if it’s because they don’t like the idea or if there’s something more. Mom bursts into laughter.
“That’s not going to work,” Dad barks. “I forbid it.”
Beacon snorts. “I’m not sure what’s funnier, your face or Grace’s line, ‘He’s going to teach me how to date.’”
Dad sighs, relieved because, apparently, I’m wrong. I won’t be getting any dating lessons.
“You promised to teach me how to date.”
“No, you wanted me to teach you, and I said, ‘We’re dating.’” He turns to look at my father and says, “By the way, I am dating Grace.”
“No, you’re